Page last updated
Tuesday 15th Sep 2026
Page written on 30th June 2026 by
Victoria McCann, Communications Director
Clinically reviewed on 15th September 2026 by
Dr Seamus Macauley, Addiction Therapist, Castle Health
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after someone goes through a frightening or traumatic experience.
This could be a single event, such as an accident or assault, or something longer-lasting – like abuse, neglect, or repeated exposure to danger.
Treatment for PTSD helps people learn how trauma affects their mind and body, and gives them ways to manage it. At Castle Health, we offer PTSD treatment as part of our wider addiction treatment service, for people aged 16 and over through care at home or in our centres across the UK and Europe, with support tailored to each person.
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I contacted Castle Health [formerly CATCH Recovery] seeking guidance and options to support a relative who was having a difficult time both with addiction and other mental health concerns. The team were incredibly kind and informed, they took the time to go through all the options with me and helped us plan how to approach the matter. Fortunately the person has now been receiving care from [CATCH] for several months and is doing really well. A big thank you to the wonderful team! I would highly recommend this service.
What is PTSD?
PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop after someone experiences trauma. It’s normal to feel shaken after something frightening happens, but PTSD is diagnosed when those reactions don’t fade and start to affect daily life.
PTSD affects people in different ways. Some people have vivid memories or dreams. Others feel numb, constantly alert, or cut off from people around them.
As of 2024, around 4% of the world’s population has experienced PTSD at some point in their lives.
What causes PTSD?
There isn’t always a clear reason why one person develops PTSD, and another doesn’t. Two people can go through similar events and come away with very different reactions.
Symptoms can appear straight after the event or weeks, months, or even years later.
PTSD can develop after many different types of trauma, including:
- Accidents or serious injuries
- Physical or sexual assault
- Childhood abuse or neglect
- Domestic violence
- Military combat
- Medical trauma
- Witnessing death or serious harm
Young people can develop PTSD after bullying or growing up in an unsafe home. Some young adults turn to alcohol or drugs as a way to cope with what they’re feeling.
This is why youth and addiction support looks at trauma and substance misuse together rather than treating them separately.
What are the signs and symptoms of PTSD?
PTSD symptoms are grouped into four main areas. People may experience symptoms from one or several at the same time.
Re-experiencing
Re-experiencing is when memories of the trauma return in unwanted ways, including:
- Intrusive thoughts or flashbacks
- Nightmares
- Feeling as though the event is happening again right now
Avoidance
Avoidance means a person might stay away from anything that brings the trauma to mind, such as:
- Certain places, people, or conversations
- Your own thoughts about what happened
Negative thoughts
Negative thoughts and mood changes can include:
- Guilt, shame, or low mood
- Emotional numbness
- Losing interest in things you used to care about
Hyperarousal
Hyperarousal means feeling on edge or reactive, which can look like:
- Being easily startled
- Panic attacks or dizziness
- Sudden physical reactions to stress
These symptoms can be exhausting and are often hard to manage without the right support.
How is PTSD different from Complex PTSD?
Complex PTSD, often called C-PTSD, usually develops after trauma that happens repeatedly over a long period of time. It is a distinct, formally recognised diagnosis in the ICD-11, but is not a separate diagnostic category in the DSM-5.
While PTSD tends to be linked to specific traumatic events, C-PTSD more deeply affects how someone sees themselves and relates to others. People may feel a deep sense of shame or find it hard to trust the people around them.
There isn’t a single test that diagnoses PTSD. It is diagnosed through a mental health assessment with a trained professional.
This usually involves talking about your symptoms and experiences, if you feel able, and explaining how trauma is affecting your day-to-day life. It is also based on careful conversations and recognised guidelines that help clinicians understand what you’re going through.
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How is PTSD diagnosed?
There isn’t a single test that diagnoses PTSD. It is diagnosed through a mental health assessment with a trained professional.
This usually involves talking about your symptoms and experiences, if you feel able, and explaining how trauma is affecting your day-to-day life. It is also based on careful conversations and recognised guidelines that help clinicians understand what you’re going through.
What treatment for PTSD is available?
PTSD treatment works best when it’s built around the individual. Different approaches suit different people, and what helps one person may feel too much for another.
Trauma-focused therapy for PTSD
Trauma-focused therapy is at the core of treatment for PTSD. It helps you work through what happened in a calm, supported space, so that traumatic memories become less intrusive over time.
Approaches may include:
- EMDR (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing)
- Trauma-focused CBT
- Stabilisation and grounding techniques
- Therapies that focus on the body and calming the nervous system
Trauma therapy can be accessed through outpatient treatment for PTSD, which lets you attend regular sessions while continuing with everyday life.
Medication for PTSD
Medication can be part of PTSD treatment when symptoms are significantly disrupting daily life. It doesn’t remove the trauma itself, but it can ease things like poor sleep, panic attacks, or persistent low mood while therapy is taking place.
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Other approaches
Some people also find it helpful to use practical techniques to manage how they feel day to day. This can include mindfulness, grounding exercises, or gentle breathing. Others use movement or relaxation to release tension from the body.
These approaches don’t replace therapy, but they can make difficult moments easier to get through.
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Frequently asked questions about addiction and PTSD treatment
What’s the most effective treatment for PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress disorder treatment is usually most effective when it includes trauma-focused therapy. This helps people work through what happened in a safe and supported way, so memories feel less intrusive over time. For many people, the most helpful approach combines therapy with practical support and sometimes medication, moving at a pace the person can handle.
How long does PTSD treatment take?
There’s no fixed timeline. Some people notice changes within a few months, while others need longer-term support, particularly if trauma has been ongoing or happened earlier in life. Complex PTSD treatment often takes more time, as it needs to address longer-standing patterns and help someone feel safe before working through deeper memories.
Can PTSD be cured?
PTSD isn’t usually described as something that can be cured in the traditional sense. Treatment aims to reduce how much the trauma affects your thoughts, emotions, and daily life. Many people find that with the right support, symptoms become much easier to manage, and life no longer revolves around what happened.
Will I have to relive my trauma in therapy?
No. Trauma therapy doesn’t mean being forced to relive everything that happened. At a PTSD treatment centre, therapy moves at your pace and focuses on helping you feel safe before anything is discussed in detail. You’re always in control of what you share and when.
How much does private PTSD treatment cost?
The cost of private PTSD treatment varies depending on the type of support needed and how long treatment lasts. There isn’t a single fixed price, so the best way to get a clear picture is to speak with our team directly. They can explain what’s involved and what costs to expect based on the level of care that’s right for you.